Assessment and Treatment of Spasticity · Assessment and Treatment of Spasticity. Cori Ponter, PT, MPT, NCS. Barrow Neurological Institute. 3/23/19

Assessment and Treatment of

Spasticity

Cori Ponter, PT, MPT, NCSBarrow Neurological Institute3/23/19

Learner Objectives

The learner will:

• Participants will be able to identify and differentiate various assessment tools used in assessing spasticity

• Participants will be able to discuss various treatment options for patients with spasticity

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Where do we start?

Assessment Goal-Setting Choice of Treatment

How can we make our assessments meaningful?

Ashworth/Modified Ashworth

• One of the most commonly used assessment for spasticity in the clinic

• Frequently used as the “gold-standard” to validate other spasticity measures against.

• Measure of RESISTANCE TO PASSIVE MOVEMENT 1• Is NOT a measure of spasticity, but scores may by influenced

by spasticity 2• Is performed at one speed only (one-second1), so does not

capture the “velocity-dependent” component of spasticity• Good screening tool to indicate when further assessment

needed

1. Bohannon R,, et al. Physical Therapy 1987. 67:1068-1071 2. Pandyan AD, et al. Clin Rehab 1999;13(5):373 – 383

Psychometrics – Mixed Reviews

Pandyan AD, et al. Clin Rehab 1999;13(5):373 – 383Malhotra S, et al. Clin Rehabil. 1998: 1005-1115

Author Subjects Results/FindingsSloan et al 34 hemiplegic “MAS has acceptable interrater reliability for testing of upper limb spasticity, but not

so for testing of the lower limb spasticity.”

Nuyens,et al 30 MS “AS more reliable for muscles of the ankle than for muscles of the knee, and least reliable for muscles of the hip.”

Haas, et al 30 SCI Interrater reliability varied between AS and MAS, between muscle groups (hip adductors > hip extensors/flexors > ankles plantarflexors), and between limbs. Recommended for both to be used with caution when assessing LE spasticity with SCI patients

Allison et al 30 TBI Low interrater reliability for ankle plantarflexors, and argued that there was no support for continued use of MAS to assess PFs in pts with TBI.

Gregson, et al 32 acute CVA Intra/inter-rater reliability found to be “good to very good for the elbow, wrist and knee, but less satisfactory over the ankle.”

Blackburn et al 36 CVA Acceptable intra-rater reliability, but poor inter-rater reliability for MAS. Most agreement was with scores of “0,” so conclusion was that reliable measurements could be obtained to determine whether normal or low muscle tone is present or not.

Ashworth/Modified Ashworth

Bohannon R,, et al. Physical Therapy 1987. 67:1068-1071

0 No increase in tone

1 Slightly increased tone, with a catch & release or minimal resistance at terminal ROM

1+ Slight increase, catch followed by minimal resistance throughout the remainder of the range (<1/2 of the ROM) (only in MAS)

2 Marked increase through most of the ROM, but affect part is easily moved

3 Considerable increase, passive ROM difficult4 Affected part is rigid

Passive movements of muscle groups should be performed over a one-second time frame

“The results...are clear and tell us the Ashworth Scale has insufficient validity and reliability to be used as a measure of spasticity. However, we are left with the problem of how to measure spasticity in a valid and reliable way. The quest for this holy grail is ongoing.”

- Katharina S Sunnerhagen

Sunnerhagen, K. Stop Using the Ashworth scale for the assessment of spastisity [letter]. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2010. 81:2

Slow down!

• MAS performed as a 1-second movement – which is not as fast as many of us learned in school

• The score is based on the resistance felt during that one second of passive movement

• Should be done 1-3 times at most

MAS

36 y/o male with R CVA, resulting in spastic left hemiparesis. Below are the MAS scores for his L UE and LE.

UE Muscle Group MAS LE Muscle Group MASShoulder Flexors 0 Hip Flexors 0Shoulder Extensors 2 Hip Extensors 3Shoulder Adductors 3 Hip Adductors 3Elbow Flexors 2 Hip Int Rotators 0Elbow Extensors 0 Hip Ext Rotators 2Wrist Flexors 3 Knee Extensors 0Wrist Extensors 0 Knee Flexors 2Finger Flexors 3 Ankle Plantarflexors 3Thumb Adductors 0 Ankle Inverters 0

Ankle Everters 0

Case Example

So how do we assess further??

Gracies JM, et al. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2010;91:421-8.

The Tardieu Scale

Measures two aspects of spasticity1) Quantity -- Spasticity Angle2) Quality - Spasticity Grade

May be more useful in terms of predicting the functional implications of the spasticity, as well as

assessing the effects of treatment

The Tardieu Scale

Spasticity Angle


Range of motion measured at two different velocitiesV1 – Slow as possible (R2)V3 – Fast as possible (R1)

R2 R1 Spasticity Angle

Large spasticity angles indicate a large dynamic component (spasticity), whereas small differences indicate predominantly muscle contracture

Spasticity Grade


0 No resistance throughout passive movement

1 Slight resistance throughout passive movement

2 Clear catch at precise angle, interrupting passive movement, followed by release

3 Fatigable clonus (<10 s when maintaining pressure) occurring at a precise angle, followed by release

4 Unfatigable clonus (>10s when maintaining pressure) occuring at a precise angle

Notes: If spasticity angle = 0, grade must be a 0 or 1 by definitionIf spasticity angle > 0, grade must be at least a 2, even if no

definite “release” felt

What does the literature say?

More likely to identify presence of spasticity [but not severity] and the presence of contractures than MAS/AS1

Very good intra-rater reliablity across 2 sessions in elbow flexors and ankle plantarflexors 2

Good reliability in assessing elbow flexor and ankle plantarflexor spasticity 3

Reliability significantly increases with training3

“In patients with severe brain injury and impaired consciousness the Modified Tardieu Scale provides higher test retest and inter-rater reliability compared with the Modified Ashworth Scale and may therefore be a more valid spasticity scale in adults.” 4

See additional references

How to perform the Tardieu Scale


• Measure R2 – Achieved with a SLOW and powerful passive movement (V1). This should give us the full range of motion of the muscle group. • Should be slow enough to prevent eliciting any

stretch reflexes• Should be powerful enough to overcome any

resting dystonia• R2 is documented as the point where no further

passive movement is achievable.

• Measure R1 – Achieved with a passive movement that is as fast as possible (V2)• R1 is documented as the angle at which the first

resistance is felt

• Calculate Spasticity angle – the difference between the two angles of R2 and R1

• Assign Spasticity Grade to the resistance felt during R1 measurement

How to perform the Tardieu Scale

Case Example, cont

UE Muscle Group MAS R2 R1 Spasticity > Prob ImplicationShoulder Extensors 2 180 40 140 Spasticity

Shoulder Adductors 3 120 120 0 M TightnessElbow Flexors 2 150 120 30 M Tightness

SpasticityWrist Flexors 3 100 80 20 M Tightness

SpasticityFinger Flexors 3 150 150 0 M TightnessHip Extensors 3 100 100 0 Tightness (M, C?)Hip Adductors 3 120 110 10 M Tightness

Hip Ext Rotators 2 110 110 0 CapsularKnee Flexors 2 180 60 120 SpasticityAnkle Plantarflexors 3 70 70 0 M Tightness

Assessing the spasticity angle

Active Range of Motion

• NOT a measure of strength, but a measure of how much the spastic muscle can be overcome!

• Documented as the number of degrees of active movement.

• Are we seeing co-contraction of the antagonist?


Rapid Alternating Contractions

• Looking at the time it takes to perform a set number of active movements (into their full AROM)

• Co-contraction usually increases with effort and fatigue

• May be more indicative of what we see in functional mobility (ie, gait, feeding).


Modified Frenchay Scale

Modified Frenchay Scale

0 = not able to perform any of task/no mvmt5 = barely accomplished task10 = normal performance

High intra- and inter-raterreliability (Baude et al. ESNR,2015)

Gracies,Handbook of botulinum toxin 2002; 2009; 2015

FUNCTION!!!

Severity Significance

Functional Assessment

1. Gracies JM, et al. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2010;91:421-82. Doan, et al. PMR 2012 Jan; 4(1):4-10 (abstract)

ASK QUESTIONS!How is this impacting their lives? Severity ≠ Significance!What are THEIR goals of treatment?

OBSERVE!Watch them walk, transfer, maneuver w/c, eat, dress, etcHow are they positioned?VIDEO, VIDEO, VIDEO!

BE OBJECTIVEUse measures such as 10-meter walk, 6-minute walk test,

Gaitrite, Goal Attainment Scale

Pre-trial gait

Post-trial gait

Handwriting

Setting goals


Who are we focused on when setting goals?

Clinician Goals

Patient Goals

Goal check

Meaningful Realistic/Achievable

Functional Objective

Patient-centered

Treatment options


Interdisciplinary Treatment

Patient & Family

Pharmacist

Physical Therapy

Occupational TherapyPhysician

Social Work/Case

Management

Nursing

ITB patient education

The pre and post trial process Implant process

What we are looking for during

the post-trial assessment

Pump precautionsWhat a pump may

or may not help with

Possibility of initial functional decline• Necessity for further

therapy

Potential for weight gain

Importance of refills

Signs of withdrawal!!!• Itcy, witchy, twitchy

Graham, L. Oxford Journals, 2013 (42)435-441

Therapy management

Therapy-driven neuroplasticity?

• 23 patients at least 6 months post-CVA– Documented spasticity and at least trace activation in

selected UE muscle groups• Outcome measures – MAS, FM, sensory tests, fMRI• Intervention – 12 week motor learning therapy program,

including treatment for spasticity• Results

– Greater spasticity correlated with poorer function according to FM scores, and with greater severe sensory deficits

– Significant gains in motor function measured with FM total score

– Improvements in spasticity correlated with increased task-related brain activation in the CONTRAlesional M1, LPM, S1 and AS regions

Pundik, et al. Stroke Research and Treatment (2014); 306325

BWSTT vs Tilt Table in SCI

When body weight supported treadmill training and tilt table programs were compared in patients with SCI -

– BWSTT had greater decreases in flexorspasms, clonus, and self-reported mobility after 4 weeks of treatment

– Tilt table standing had greater reduction in extensor spasms after 4 weeks of treatment.

– Participants in BWSTT appeared to have higher scores on QoL measures

Adams, M and Hicks A. The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine; 2011 (31) 488-494

Casting

• A conservative and effective modality to reduce muscle tightness, decrease chance of deformity, and achieve optimum alignment of a joint.

• Casts offer a temporary, specific, and noninvasive intervention as an alternative or complement to other interventions.

• Casting may help eliminate, delay, or minimize the need for surgical interventions.

• Best outcomes combined with medical management

Park E, et al. Yonsei Medical Journal. 2010; 51(4): 579-584Verplancke D, et al. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2005. 19(2): 117-125

Alternatives

Positioning

Positioning

Modalities

• Heat and Cold– Temporarily decreases tone and increases pain

thresholds– May be beneficial in conjunction with

strengthening antagonistic muscles or prior to casting

• Vibration– Shown to have short term decreases in tone as

well as improvement in function– Should be used in conjuction with other

therapies

Smania, N, et al. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2010; 46:423-38

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Estim leading to muscle contraction:

Pure sensory stimulation thought to inhibit overactivity through influencing the excitability of the alpha motor neurons and triggering sensorimotor reorganization

Stimulation of the overactive muscles may lead to fatigue, thus decreasing activation

Minimal results published regarding long-term effects, but has been shown to have good short term effects

Increases in function are thought to be a result of increasedmotor control gained during brief inhibitory period following e-stim

Modalities


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Strengthening


• Research shows us that spastic muscles are weak muscles• Strengthening (post-CVA) has been shown to

• Increase function• Decreased perceived limitations & increase perceived QOL• Increase gait speed• Has not been shown to increase spasticity (as measured by

Pendulum test or MAS)

Does strengthening a spastic muscle

increase the over-activity?

Historical thought

was…YES

Research says…..NO

The dreaded PLATEAU

Who is plateauing? The patient?The therapist?The physician?

Can we change the recovery trajectory for the patient?

Is one year all we get?

Self-Guided Contract

• Retrospective study by Pradines, et al in 2015 • 30 subjects (all > 1 yr post lesion) all followed

self-guided contract– Antagonist-based– Diary-based

• Alternating stretching and rapid maximal amplitude alternating movements (eccentric stretches), documented in daily diary, performed for at least 1 year

Responder rate

Gait speed

Optimizing Outcomes

Medical management

Therapy interventions

Better outcomes!

Pre and post Botox

Pre and post Botox

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OutcomeTeam approach to spasticity management

• 37-yo male who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury from an assault two years earlier

• Completed one month of inpatient rehabilitation

• Was sent home just as he was emerging from a coma

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• Home therapy cannot do much because of posture

• Drugs and injections to treat muscle tightness did not work

• Surgery?

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Before Any Therapy Can be Done:• INFECTIOUS DISEASES CONSULTATION

• Antibiotics for groin abscess• ORTHOPEDICS

• Hip contracture release• Groin abscess I&D

• NEUROSURGERY• Intrathecal Baclofen therapy

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Before After Surgeries

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• Inpatient rehabilitation• PHYSICAL AND

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

• Botulinum toxin injections to neck• SPEECH THERAPY

• Improved speech and swallowing

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• ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON• Knee flexion

contracture• Repeat botulinum

toxin injections to wrists and neck

• More therapies

Botox™ 200 units :

Finger flexors (FDS, FDP)Long thumb flexor (FPL)

67/male, 3 years post TBI, Anoxia, Stroke

Botox™ 200-250 units :

Finger flexors (FDS, FDP)MCP flexor (lumbricals)FPL

Occupational therapy:

Stretch/weight-bearingSerial casting“Forced-use”

Questions???

Additional References

1. Patrick E, Ada L. The Tardieu Scale differentiates contracture from spasticity whereas the Ashworth Scale is confounded by it. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2006;20(2):173–181.

2. Singh P, Joshua A, Ganeshan S, Suresh S. Intra-rater reliability of the modified Tardieu scale to quantify spasticity in elbow flexors and ankle plantarflexors in adult stroke subjects. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology 2011. 14(1): 23-36

3. Gracies JM, Burke K, Clegg NJ, Browne R, Rushing C, Fehlings D et al. Reliability of the Tardieu Scale for assessing spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil2010;91:421-8.

4. Mehrholz J, Wagner K, Meissner D, Grundmann K, Zange C, Koch R, Pohl M. Reliability of the Modified Tardieu Scale and the Modified Ashworth Scale in adult patients with severe brain injury: a comparison study. Clin Rehabil. 2005. 19(7): 751-759

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Documents

Assessment and Treatment of Spasticity · Assessment and Treatment of Spasticity. Cori Ponter, PT, MPT, NCS. Barrow Neurological Institute. 3/23/19